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Picture Courtesy: (MDNnewss) Hlalele family is mourning four children aged between 12 and 11, who died when their school transport was allegedly hit from the back and caught fire, on Wednesday morning.
(The Post News)- The accident involving a scholar transport that occurred on Wednesday morning, July 10, where the driver and 11 pupils lost their lives has left a family mourning four children.
Initial reports stated that 12 pupils died from the accident; however, the death toll has been reduced to 11 pupils.
It is alleged that the driver and 11 pupils were burned beyond recognition, while another eight pupils were transported to Carltonville Hospital.
Of the eight that were hospitalised, seven were discharged in the afternoon, while one was moved to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto for specialised treatment.
According to the family that lost four children in the accident, pupils had to sit on buckets and empty tins because the minibus did not have enough seats. The four deceased children were cousins, as their mothers were sisters.
In an article written by Ntwaagae Seleka, a journalist from News24, it was stated that the uncle of the deceased children, Aviva Manqa, said that the children began using the transport in question on Tuesday, July 9, when the schools reopened for the third term.
Manqa added that what their children went through was painful, and they “were burnt beyond recognition,” and the family is unable to provide more details regarding the state of their burned remains.
He also conveyed his gratitude for the support the family has received since the incident occurred.
According to Manqa, his family wants answers to feel at peace, and the mothers of the four children are struggling to comprehend what transpired.
He stated that the four children were doing well academically, they were respectful, and they enjoyed jokes just as their mothers and grandmothers did.
Additionally, he said that the children were adored both at home and in the community, and they are going to miss them.
The children were Sihle Hlalele (12), who was in grade seven; Hlompho Hlalele (11) in grade five; Thato Hlalele (8) in grade three; and Reneilwe Hlalele (7) in grade two.
In response to this incident, President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed “deep” regret and conveyed condolences to the mourning families, friends, schools, and communities of all the deceased pupils, while wishing a speedy and full recovery to the pupils who were injured during the accident.
Gauteng MEC for Road and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, addressed the media while visiting the Hlalele family and said that an investigation to determine whether the minibus was licensed to transport scholars is underway.
She also pleaded with parents and transport services to put the pupils’ safety first.
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